Traditions

Sometimes traditions are those events, rituals and procedures that we partake in without giving them a second thought--our parents always did it, their parents did it, and so on.  The tradition began so long ago that no one really knows how, when or why it originated but there it is, it has become a tradition, a set part of how we are and of what we do.  Traditions bind us together and help create memories. They are the “good ole days” that we look back to fondly. Traditions provide feelings of nostalgia, molding everyday experiences into something to tell your grandkids about.

There is no reason that we can’t begin a new tradition with our own family.  This year I am challenging you to begin a tradition.  No worries, it's an easy one to incorporate.  This year, on Christmas Eve or Christmas

Day, before all those presents are parceled out and unwrapped, gather your family together and read the story of Jesus’ birth.  I suggest Luke 2:1-20. This account of Jesus’ birth helps remind us all why we put up a tree and give gifts to one another.  Help your kids remember that this season is not about a jolly ole fat man who lives at the North Pole and give kids presents, but it is about God sending his son to earth to be with us.

Merry Christmas!

Creating a memorable experience.

Connecting people to something isn’t easy but when genuine connections happen they can create amazing results. 

If you haven’t seen this video here it is. 

As I watched the video I began to wonder if any of these people would consider any other airline next time they travel.  I don’t think so because they have had an experience that changed their lives.  They have connected to WestJet Airlines in such a way that their experience with them was something they will never forget.  In light of this what can each of us do to help connect people to others and to God here at Community of Hope.

Honor

No matter what time of year it is, some sport is having a championship game.  The best teams come out for one last game to see who really is number one.  We select players for all star teams and hand out most valuable player awards.  We choose the best athletes and put them on an elite team.  We honor them because of how many runs or points they score, how high they jump or how fast they are.  In short, we reward them for what they do.  Chances are if you have kids in sports or competitions of any kind you have a growing collection of ribbons, medals, sashes, certificates, trophies, and plaques around the house.  Some hang on walls or sit propped up on shelves somewhere, others get stuffed into a drawer or… eventually thrown out.  They were so important when they were first received and brought home but somewhere along they way they lost their value.  Don’t get me wrong I am not suggesting it is wrong to honor someone for what they have accomplished, it is actually an important part of celebrating what happens in life.  The truth is trophies only mean so much because honor has a deeper meaning.  Honor is letting someone know you see how valuable they really are.  People should not only be honored for what they do, they should primarily be honored because of who they are.  Your stuff will lose value over time but people do not.  At it’s core, honor is seeing people the way God sees people.While we may be naturally wired to put ourselves first, honor is the exact opposite of self-centeredness --honor something that flows from your relationship with God.   People start showing others honor when they understand that the people around them were created by God.  In a sense, one of the best ways we can honor God is by honoring those who reflect the image of God.  Maybe that is why Romans 12: 10 says, “Love each other deeply.  Honor others more than yourselves.”   I think as leaders it is important that we memorize this verse and have our children memorize it as well.  When someone understands the principle of honor it changes the way they treat everyone.  The secret to show honor to others is to understand that it begins by honoring God.  If you want to invite your kids to a better story, invite them into a story where they honor those around them.  They will begin to see people who are overlooked by society with a different kind of value.  They will also see authority figures with a different kind of respect.  They tend to see their peers with a different kind of appreciation.When training his staff a restaurant, the owner used to tell his employees that when someone walks into the restaurant the employees were to imagine they were wearing a sign that read, “Please make me feel like I am worth something.”   He gave his staff a mental picture to make everyone feel valued.  What would happen if we simply took the advice of that restaurant owner?  What if we can teach our children to look at the people around them and really believe that those people have been made by God... to imagine that each person really was wearing an invisible sign that said, “Show me that I am worth something.” Honor notices those who aren’t being noticed.  Honor puts others ahead of yourself.  Honor shows value to others when you keep your word.  Honor is ultimately based on how you view and respect God.  As Christian parents and leaders, we have a great opportunity to raise a group of kids who look around and attach value to other people simply because they are created by God.  See you Sunday,Pastor Ed

Obedience

It seems like most of us don’t like to hear the word obedience.  There is something about that word that makes us think back to our days of childhood when it seemed like everyone was telling us what to do all the time.  Obedience was one of the reasons many of us wanted to grow up, so no one would be telling us what to do all the time.  After all, maybe it is OK to have chocolate cake for breakfast… at least every once in a while.   And what is really wrong with “forgetting” to make your bed every now and then…. Or maybe a week?  But the surprising thing is that, as adults, we still follow rules.  There are some rules we follow without even thinking about them.  After all, who of us would intentionally spray Windex in our eyes or reuse that bottle of drain cleaner to store beverages?  Why do we follow these rules?  Well, they are pretty good rules to live by, aren’t they?  The people who make Windex know something about it’s chemical properties that I might not fully understand.  Since they are selling me their product they feel like they have a sense of duty to help me use their product safely and they don’t want me to get it in my eyes. The people who make drain cleaner know that their product, while able to clean a clogged kitchen sink, can be deadly if I drink it, or reuse the container to drink from.  OK, maybe they just don’t want me to sue them.  But there are also people in my life who have authority over me--I have a boss.  I obey the laws in my area.  I wear a seat belt when I drive.  I do these things because I trust that the people who have authority over me have put these rules in place for my protection.

This month in Sunday Morning Children’s Worship we are going to be talking about the word obedience.  It’s not that we want children to simply comply with all the rules we create but we want children to see the value of trusting those who have authority over them.  That is why we are saying, obedience is trusting those who lead you by doing what you’re asked to.  Somewhere along the way we need to make sure the kids who grow up in our church and in our homes understand why it’s important to obey and that how they obey their leaders reflects what they think about God.  Our memory verse this month is Hebrews 13:17 NIrV, “Obey your leaders.  Put yourselves under their authority.  They keep watch over you.  They know they are accountable to God for everything they do.” Our goal as parents and children’s leaders is to somehow make sure children know that God is somehow involved in putting people over them, that God has a plan for authority, and knows more than we know, and honestly cares for our well being.  We want kids to grow up trusting God because God knows more than they know, and God loves them unconditionally.

So why is it important for you as a parent or children’s leader to teach your children obedience?  To teach children to trust those who lead them by doing what they are asked to do?  Well, for at least 2 reasons.  First, we want every child to understand what it means to live under the umbrella of authority and protection when it comes to their safety and their future.  Second, most of these children are going to grow up, have their own families, become leaders in their own organizations.  Their ability to follow authority will determine how well they are able to lead.  So this month in children’s worship we are doing one thing: teaching children to obey by trusting those who lead them by doing what they are asked to do.   See you Sunday!

Courage

How many of you, as children, had the dream of being a superhero? Think about it. Because really, how cool would it be to be a superhero? I remember as a child dressing up in a costume my mom made and pretending I was helping save the world.  Isn’t there something intriguing about those who are all-powerful and can rescue a person who is being threatened? As a kid watching cartoons I am sure many of us had this dream. And, if we were really honest, many of us would have to admit that we still imagine what it would be like to be the hero or bring justice to the world.

One of my favorite superheroes is Batman. One of the coolest things about Batman is that he is an ordinary person just like you and me. He was different from the rest of the superheroes because he had no incredible superpower, he was just an ordinary person who decided he was going to fight injustice. With his creativity and innovation he came up with some ways to be who he needed to be and show courage to a generation.

Even thought we will never excel to the height of being a “superhero” there is a sense in which we are all called everyday to do heroic things. The truth is that sometimes life requires us to step out of our comfort zone and do something that is right--something that calls for an extra dose of courage.

My brother and me pretending to be superheroes.
I am wearing the yellow cape.

But here is the question we all have to wrestle with: where does the power or strength come from to do the heroic things we are called to do? We aren’t superheroes who posses unique power that comes from some alien planet or through some strange quirk of science gone awry. Where does the courage come from that sometimes requires us to stand up or speak out? The truth is fear can be a very real ad crippling thing. And the truth is that as leaders and parents we do not want our kids to grow up being paralyzed by fear that will keep them from achieving certain things in life or accomplishing what God has called them to do. We must somehow equip our kids to do the right thing even though they are afraid. That’s why we define courage as being brave enough to do what you should do even when you’re afraid. I think fear is a normal response that many of us deal with day to day but the real issue is where does the strength come from which allows us to overcome our fear? When does the need to be courageous become so great that it overshadows the thing that paralyzes us? Ultimately as parents, it is our goal to raise up a generation who understands a principle or truth that will allow them to face the world with a different kind of courage.

Our goal as parents is to raise everyday heroes, not superheroes--to raise a generation who realize that there will be times when they need to stand up against the bully; speak out for the sake of others who do not have a voice; or simply refuse to do the wrong thing even though the crowd seems to be going that direction. In doing that we are helping them realize that they have a source of power and strength as believers that sets them apart. As believers they can hold firm to the simple truth found in the book of Psalms that says, “When I’m afraid I will trust in you” (Psalms 56:3). There are going to be times when we, as mere human mortals, are timid about doing the right thing, taking the stand, or speaking out, but when we trust in a power that is greater than we are, we can have the strength, the resolve and the courage to do the right thing.

This month in children’s worship we will begin to examine some ordinary men and women who had no “superpowers” but understood that God had a mission for them and their lives and would equip them with the courage that they needed to get the job done. Belief in God does not mean bad things will not come our way or that we will never be afraid, but our kids need to realize that when bad things come our way, and they will, God is with us, helping us along the way. Courage is deciding that even though I am afraid I can know God is there and I can do the right thing anyway.

Patience

I am sure many of us can remember those days as a child when summer vacation was approaching, when Christmas was right around the corner and the days to our birthdays drew nearer and nearer.   For some reason, kids don’t need a calendar to be reminded that their birthday is approaching--they somehow sense it and with each passing day their anticipation builds.  Preparation for their birthday begins to preoccupy their every thought.  What should the theme be?  Who will be invited? What flavor cake will be have?   Should we have ice cream too? Will it be an overnight party?  What presents will I get?  Our kids become impatient with preparing for their big day.  They just can’t wait to see what’s inside those wrapped presents, to eat that awesome cake and have fun with all their friends who attend the party.

As adults I am not sure many of us are much better at being patient than our kids.  While it may not be our birthdays we become preoccupied with, maybe it is our upcoming vacation or the announcement of that next big bonus at work.  Having patience is hard.  None of us wants to wait until later for anything.  We crave instant satisfaction.

All month long in children’s worship we are going to unpack the idea of patience and what it means to reflect the character of God. We will not only look at how patience affects the kind of decisions we make, but also at how patience plays into the way we treat other people.  We are going to define patience as, waiting until later for what you want now.  In other words, we are going to try to help children learn the value of delayed gratification and realize that the God who is patient with them is in the process of developing this same characteristic in their lives. 

Patience is kind of like making old-fashioned homemade ice cream.  Think about all the effort that goes into making this delicious treat.  You start with all the ingredients—the milk, eggs, vanilla and the ice.  All the ingredients go together into a container and the lid is put on….and, then, the waiting begins.  You just have to sit there while the ingredients mix together and, with time, become the wonderful sweet frozen treat we all love.  You can’t rush the process.  You can’t just open up the container when you are ready.  No, you have to wait until the ingredients become mixed and frozen to create the final product.  You can’t hurry it along.  No matter how impatient you are the ice cream will not be ready until it is time to be ready.

You have to be patient to wait on the end result.  We all know in the end it will be worth the wait.  But we have to be patient.  God seems to prove his patience as we learn more about the world he created.  We can’t rush the changing of the seasons, the growing of a tree or the development of character that is being nurtured in our kids.  We can try to rush these things but ultimately we only become frustrated by our own lack of patience as God’s world grows and works in His time.

Join us this month as we see the value of God’s idea of patience. Pray that God would help us as we patiently become the people He wants us to be.

Handing Down Our Faith

This video seems to be all over and I am sure many of you have already seen it but I want you to watch it one more time and then as a parent or leader think about these questions.

How can we set kids up for success in their Christian journey?

How can we successfully hand off the faith to kids?

How can we do a better job at cheering kids on in their faith?

How is this like what we do for kids spiritually? 

Friendship

This month in children’s worship we are going got talk about Friendship: spending time with someone you trust and enjoy.  As adults we recognize the importance of the friendships we have in our lives.  As believers in Christ, we know that these relationships center around a response to the loving friendship that is modeled to us through Jesus.

As we connect all the aspects of friends this month, we will unpack what the ultimate friend looks like by exploring the traits and behaviors modeled by Jesus.  If our children are going to understand the value of relationships and how to be the right kind of friend they need to first understand the kind of friend Jesus wants to be in their lives.  This idea of friendship isn’t simply about performing and being a good friend.  Rather, it is about being the kind of friend that models what kind of friend Jesus could be to all people.  Proverbs 17:17 reminds us, "A friend loves at all times. He is there to help when trouble comes."  As adults, we know all too well being a friend isn’t always easy work.  Sometimes friends can be difficult to love.  Sometimes we have to work hard to be friends with others. 

It is important for our kids to learn that they they really don’t have the ability to be the right kind of friend merely on their own.  Our ability to be the right kind of friend is connected to a God who has not only illustrated what a friend is, but will also give them the power to be the right kind of friend.  While there are a lot of stories in the bible that focus on Jesus’ friendship with his disciples and others, this month we are gong to take look at how Jesus showed friendship with his disciples after his resurrection.  These stories will be centered around Jesus’ relationship with his disciples after he ascended into heaven.  We see the real staying power of friendship--that friendship endures all--when we learn that Jesus left the planet, ascended into heaven and declared, “I will be with you always.”  Jesus showed us that he can be a friend to us in a way no one else ever could.  Jesus shows us not just a friendship with another human but extends to us a friendship with God!  When believers first have friendship with Christ and the Holy Spirit, the level of friendship they have with others is more authentic and meaningful.  

Honesty

How are you when it comes to the issue of honesty? Would you consider yourself a truthful person? This month in children’s worship we will be talking a lot about honesty.  As most parents know, children have the uncanny knack of saying what’s on their mind (even if it is hurtful to others.)  A parent once old me a story about his 3 year old son which I think illustrates children’s’ ability to speak their mind.  The boy was riding a coin-operated horse in front of a store.  As he was enjoying the experience, a woman walked by and said to the boy, “That looks like fun! Can I ride too?”  The boy quickly replied, “No! You’re too fat.”  Hmmm, as we talk about honesty this month we aren’t trying to get kids to say anything and everything they think and feel--we are not talking about just saying what comes to mind but living a life characterized by truthfulness. Hopefully, as a result of this month’s teachings, our kids will be come to understand what being truthful does for their life relationally and emotionally. As we talk about honesty we are going to say that honesty is choosing to be truthful in whatever you say and do. We are talking about honesty not just because to relates to the core of our relationships, but because God reminds us over and over again throughout his word about the importance of a life lived in truth.

So, it’s important that we are honest because when we’re dishonest we hurt the people we care about and ultimately destroy ourselves.  When we’re honest we build friendships and relationships in the right kind of way.  Ideally our kids will grow up realizing that for the sake of their own relationships and their own life they need to be honest.